Last May, Taylor Swift made headlines as she received an honorary doctorate from New York University and delivered a speech for the graduating class of ’22.
Meanwhile, another star who has been given an honorary doctorate this year is Kunal Nayyar, who plays astrophysicist Dr. Raj Koothrappali on the CBS hit ‘The Big Bang Theory’.
Nayyar received a Ph.D. in Humane Letters from his alma mater, the University of Portland (UP) on May 1, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration back in 2003.
With his success from the well-loved sitcom, Nayyar has utilized some of his earnings to fund scholarships for UP’s Performing & Fine Arts students, and to sponsor UP’s annual trip to the American College Theater Festival together with his wife.
During his speech, Nayyar said that it is important to get to know yourself better by spending time with yourself in silence.
“The more you know yourself, the more you begin to see the world the way it actually is, not the way you think it should be,” he said.
“All of us are trying to fit this infinite universe into a fine understanding. We’re trying to mold the world into this tiny box so we can control it. I think to be joyful, light, peaceful, it may be helpful to loosen the grip you have on this world a little. Do your thing. Let the universe do its thing too,” he added.
The actor also shared to the graduates that while “it is often said ‘Find your purpose so you can have a meaningful life’,” he realized “why not live a meaningful life and then find your purpose?”